Cymbidium in Delaware

[mook1178]

I have been looking into getting a cybidium. I know they need cools nights in late summer for blooming. Is Delaware a good place for growing outdoors Spring through fall? Will the plant get the cool evenings during the right time? I think we don't start falling in temps at night until September.

[Dollythehun]

You'll get expert advise from Kim @ FairOrchids. I believe he's in New Jersey.

That said, Roberta well tell you they need a twenty degree difference between day and night. Last year my weather didn't cooperate. It got cold and stayed cold. However, the year before, I did successfully bloom mine in Sunny Indiana (tongue in cheek).

[Fairorchids]

They will do fine outdoors in DE from mid/late April till 1st frost. Plants can tolerate temps down to 28F, but developing spikes cannot. Bring inside when night time temps drop to 33-34F.

U can grow in full sun, if you water (& fertilize) enough. Otherwise place in very light mottled shade.

[Subrosa]

I'm in central PA, zone 6A and my Cymbidium have been out for the past 2 weeks. Once night time lows were predicted to stay above 35°F they went out into the sunniest situation I can provide midsummer, and right against a south facing brick wall for a bit of protection. Fortunately it's a bit shadier until the sun's path gets higher and I had zero signs of any light stress.

[Ray]

Get some hybrids with the Chinese species in their backgrounds, and the temperature tolerance will be significantly stretched upward.

[WaterWitchin]

Do it Mook! I'm in 6a and consider Cymbs one of the easiest things I grow. The cold growing ones, which get a lot higher temps in the summer than they should and over a prolonged time period. And the blooms last seemingly forever. It looks from your high/low temps you'll only need to have it inside for 4 or so months in winter.

That's what we're here for right? To encourage others to collect more orchids?

[mook1178]

Thank you for the info. I saw some recently at Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square. They were absolutely stunning!